Colorado Desert occupies about 2,000 square miles (5,200 square kilometers) of southeastern California. It lies between the Santa Rosa and Coast ranges on the west and the Colorado River on the east. The desert also extends south into northwestern Mexico. The Mojave Desert lies north and northwest of the Colorado Desert. Parts of the Colorado Desert are 245 feet (75 meters) below sea level. The desert’s Eagle Mountain is a valuable source of iron ore. The Imperial and Coachella valleys are rich farming regions. A number of geothermal power plants in or near Imperial Valley turn heat from the earth into energy (see Imperial Valley ).
